Earps’ fury at Nike’s ‘hurtful’ decision not to sell keeper kits
Mary Earps has issued a damning criticism of England’s kit manufacturer Nike for not making Women’s World Cup goalkeeper kits available for fans to purchase.
Earps, who was named Fifa goalkeeper of the year in February after helping the Lionesses win last summer’s European Championship, has described Nike’s decision as “hurtful”, “damaging” and “unacceptable”, and said it makes her “feel really c---”.
She added that the lack of women’s goalkeeper shirts on sale is hindering the number of girls wanting to play in goal, and she even questioned whether the England team should be aligned with a brand that “doesn’t have inclusion at the centre” of what it does.
“I can’t really sugar-coat this in any way, so I am not going to try. It is hugely disappointing and very hurtful,” said Earps, speaking ahead of England’s opening World Cup match against Haiti tomorrow.
“I think it is a huge problem, and it is a scary message that is being sent to goalkeepers worldwide that you are not important. For it to happen a second tournament running, it is really hard to put it into words. It is a really damaging message.”
The absence of official goalkeeper kits is not thought to be confined to the England side. It is understood that the kits are not part of Nike’s commercial strategy. However, a limited number of men’s goalkeeper kits were made available ahead of the Qatar World Cup. Jordan Pickford’s wife was pictured wearing a No1 shirt at the tournament.
“I have tried everything,” said Earps. “I have been trying to go through the correct channels as much as possible. It is something I have been really, really fighting quietly and probably a lesson I have learnt is that I should have made a public statement sooner maybe, I don’t know.
“Unfortunately, it has become very evident that is not possible and there is not going to be an acceptable solution for the young kids out there.
“For my own family and friends and loved ones not to be able to buy my shirt, on a personal level that is really hard. All my team-mates, they have ordered a lot of shirts for their friends and family, they are talking about it at the dinner table: ‘Oh, I wasn’t able to get this,’ and I’m thinking, ‘Yeah, I can’t get it at all.’ There are a lot of people who have spent a tremendous amount of money on outfield shirts and then put ‘1 Earps’ on the back, which doesn’t sit well with me either.” Earps, whose Manchester United goalkeeper kit sold
out last season through the club’s store and was said to be their thirdbest-selling women’s player kit for 2022-23, added: “I temperaturechecked it with [England teammates] and said, ‘Am I overreacting, girls?’ And they said, ‘No, it is absolutely unacceptable and this is the total opposite of what we as a group stand for.’
“They were also talking about, ‘Why are we aligning with brands that don’t have inclusion at the centre, why is it always about the bottom line?’
“I get comments all the time on social media: ‘Mary, where are the shirts?’ and I have been really trying. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it happen.
“I feel really bad that a massive portion of the fans have been truly let down by this. It makes me feel really c---.”
Nike has been contacted for a response.